Partizan will close out the EuroLeague’s first double-round week in Munich, arriving with two wins and confirmation that defense is the most important part of this new team’s game. If some saw what happened against Olimpia Milano as a fluke, the Black and Whites showed in Paris that it was anything but, and that their game will start with defense.
Partizan handled Paris’ pace and limited Nadir Hifi in the key stretches of the game, which was one of its main priorities. The next challenge will be somewhat different. Bayern has Andreas Obst, whose shooting can punish even the slightest delay, and Duane Washington Jr., a guard capable of catching fire within a few minutes and changing a game.
Paris Confirmed That the Defensive Identity Is Real
Hifi still finished with 19 points, but shot 5-of-15 from the field and had little influence when the game was being decided. The Black and Whites forced him into difficult shots and decisions under pressure, and neither Roden, Herrera nor the rest of Paris found much of an advantage elsewhere. Joan Peñarroya’s team was aggressive on the ball, spent plenty of energy on its rotations and tried to put pressure on every pass and every attempt to initiate offense.
Paris opened the game with a 10-0 run and tried to establish its preferred pace from the start. Partizan settled down quickly, primarily behind Carlik Jones, and found it increasingly easier to control the game as it went on. Bayern will not want the visitors dictating the tempo in front of its own fans, particularly after a heavy defeat in the second round and ahead of its first EuroLeague home game of the season at SAP Garden.
Obst Creates a Problem Without Needing the Ball
The biggest job for Partizan’s perimeter defenders will be dealing with Obst and Washington. Obst’s 3-point shooting and movement without the ball demand constant concentration, because one late rotation or breakdown in communication can be punished immediately. Against Hifi, Partizan showed that it can load its defense toward the opponent’s best guard without losing its structure. Obst presents a different problem because his impact does not depend on how long he has the ball in his hands.
Washington poses a different problem. The former Partizan guard can go through stretches in which he practically carries the offense by himself and piles up points in a short period of time, but his time in Belgrade also showed how much his performances can fluctuate. The Black and Whites cannot allow him to find his rhythm through a few easy baskets and settle into the kind of game that suits him best. He may also have some extra motivation against his former club, but for Partizan it will matter much more to force him into a game in which every shot and every decision has to be earned.
Vildoza and Pajola Remain the First Line of Pressure
A large part of that work will again fall to Alessandro Pajola and Luca Vildoza. The Argentine played one of his most complete games since joining Partizan in Paris. He scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half, along with four steals and two assists, while also giving Partizan much more than defensive pressure on opposing guards. Partizan still lacks offensive variety in the half court, which makes performances like that from Vildoza particularly valuable. Pajola complemented him well and once again did much more than his box-score numbers suggest, giving Peñarroya’s system another measure of stability.
Kyle Allman has shown early in the season how determined he is to take advantage of his opportunity after a summer in which a possible loan was discussed. Nikola Tanasković, essentially the only available power forward, once again did an important job in Paris, while Bandja Sy played only a few minutes and still needs time before he can have a more significant impact on the rotation.
Both Centers Have Given Partizan Something Different
Partizan has also received production from both of its centers. After Kevarrius Hayes scored 18 points against Olimpia Milano, Tonye Jekiri was one of the decisive players against Paris. For a team that is still finding itself offensively, it is important for the guards to trust that a pass out of the pick-and-roll, a lob or a feed to a center slipping behind the defense can end with a finish at the rim. Ethan Thompson, meanwhile, is still trying to find his place in European basketball and did not have much influence on the first two games.
This kind of defense demands enormous energy, and it is difficult to expect the same level of intensity to be sustained without dips over an entire season. For now, though, Partizan has little reason to move away from it. While the offensive roles continue to take shape, the Black and Whites will give themselves the best chance when they can control games through their defense and prevent opponents from dragging them into a more favorable rhythm.
Munich Will Not Feel Like an Ordinary Road Game
Bayern opened the season with a comeback win over Hapoel before suffering a heavy defeat in the second round, and will now play in front of its own fans for the first time. Partizan traditionally receives strong support in Bavaria, with fans traveling from southern Germany, Austria and neighboring countries, which often gives its games in Munich a different atmosphere from the typical EuroLeague road game.
A win would move Partizan to 3-0 and further change the mood around a team that entered the season surrounded by plenty of doubt. To get there, it will have to return to what produced the first two wins: take away Obst’s shooting space, keep Washington from finding his rhythm and use its defense to maintain control of the game.
